Look at Yao's face. He is extremely frustrated. This is exactly why the Nuggets need Marc Gasol.

As I mentioned in my mailbag a couple days ago (even before the Afflalo trade), the Nuggets should seriously consider making a run at Marc Gasol. The trade the Nuggets completed yesterday puts the team in an excellent position to land the 7’1” Baby Gasol. This would in turn put the Nuggets in an excellent position to contend for an NBA title.

The Nuggets clearly need another offensively capable big man to complement Martin and Birdman’s defensive abilities, as well as take some of the heat off of Nene in the offensive paint. Marc Gasol is perfectly suited to fulfill this role. He is long, strong, and down to get the friction on (thanks, Sir Mix a Lot) in the low post. He has good strength at 265 pounds, makes powerful moves underneath the basket, is effective at drawing contact from defenders en route to the rim, and is a willing passer who looks to kick the ball out to an open teammate before taking his own shot from down low. He also possesses a nice right-handed hook shot.

Acquiring the Spaniard would finally give the Nuggets the size to push around the Lakers, Spurs, Cavs, Celtics, and Magic. Adding Gasol would also make the Nuggets a much more versatile and less predictable team. Karl could start Gasol, shift Nene over to power forward, and bring Martin off the bench against a big team like the Lakers. Against smaller, quicker teams, such as the Spurs, Gasol come off the bench to spell Martin when the team needed height and/or an offensive boost in the post.

The 24-year-old has plenty of room to grow, and he’ll undoubtedly improve once Steve Hess gets him in the gym. Seriously, think about how much Hess helped Nene’s game. Gasol would be an absolute beast at a leaner, stronger 265 pounds.

Let’s take a quick look at some numbers. In fact, who better to compare Marc Gasol to than his big bro, perennial all-star Pau Gasol…

Per 40 minutes, Pau averaged 19.1 points 9.7 total rebounds and 3.1 offensive rebounds, 2.3 blocks, .5 steals, and 2.9 assists during his rookie NBA season. Last year was Marc’s first season in the NBA and he put up some pretty solid numbers himself. Marc’s per 40-minute stat line reads as follows: 15.5 points, 9.6 total rebounds and 3.3 offensive rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.04 steals, and 2.2 assists. Though Pau scored a few more points, Marc still held his own. One must keep in mind that Marc was the Grizzlies third scoring option last year behind OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay. Even LeBron’s numbers would dip if he played in a starting-five that included Mayo and Gay. Also, remember that Pau was the go-to-guy during his first year in Memphis. Every play ran through him. Therefore, Marc did a pretty solid job by managing 11.7 points 7.4 rebounds 1.1 blocks in 30 minutes per game last season. Those numbers are exactly what the Nuggets would need out of him. Furthermore, his defense would improve while playing for a better team and coach in Denver.

It is honestly a godsend that Gasol plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis GM Chris Wallace literally gives away Gasols to other Western Conference teams. Furthermore, Gasol became expendable last month when the Grizzlies drafted 7’3” C Hasheem Thabeet, and followed this selection by trading SF/SG Quentin Richardson to the Clippers for PF Zach Randolph. These subsequent moves leave Memphis with a crowded big man rotation. The franchise wants to develop Thabeet by keeping him on the court, Z-Bo is known to erupt if he does not receive ample playing time, and the team drafted 21-year-old PF Darrell Arthur last year. Arthur, the gifted former Jayhawk, played effectively in 19 minutes per game last season, and the team does not wish to suppress his development by slashing his minutes this year. Not to mention Memphis still has 7’2” Iranian center Hamed Haddadi on the roster.

Chris Wallace explaining why he enjoys giving away Gasols. I think he is saying that the southern franchise finds the Gasols' facial hair unbecoming and their Euro attitudes too liberal and non-rigid. Whatever, Chris. Just give us Marc.

The Grizzlies’ offseason decisions also leave them devoid of smaller frontcourt reserves, shooting guards, and players in general. There are only eight players currently on the team’s roster (nine if you count Hakim Warrick, who will likely return at the QE). This is where the Nuggets come in. The Nuggets could re-sign Kleiza to the QE and then promptly trade him, Steven Hunter’s expiring contract, and Sonny Weems in exchange for Gasol. Both teams win in this trade.

Kleiza offers the Grizzlies instant offense from the bench, and is an upgrade over GF Marko Jaric. He is a better athlete than Jaric and more versatile because at 6’8” Kleiza can play 2-4. He is also a valuable (and cheap!) insurance policy behind OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay, which the team needs now that Quentin Richardson is off to LA. The Grizzlies also receive an attractive $3.7 million expiring contract; the franchise can also increase its cap flexibility for the summer of 2010 should the front office choose to let Kleiza walk at the end of next season. Sonny Weems is a D-League star, who would likely blossom while playing significant minutes in Memphis since they lack shooting guards. This trade therefore gives Memphis much needed bench scoring, lands young talent at the right positions, and frees up at least $3.7 million in cap room next summer. Heck, throw in a 2011 1st round draft pick and if necessary a 2nd rounder to ensure Chris Wallace jumps at the deal. Landing Gasol at $3.3 million is far too rewarding a possibility to pass up.

Plus, it would be ideal to acquire Gasol at this stage of his career. His contract, like Martin’s, expires after the 2011 season. The Nuggets should add Gasol now so that he develops solid chemistry with Carmelo, JR, and Nene in hopes of keeping this nucleus together long-term with the cap space the Nuggets will have once the Great Martin Contract ends.

I’m going crazy here. The Nuggets and Grizzlies are two teams that need to make deals, each team possesses the necessary pieces, and Chris Wallace is involved. If anyone besides Mitch Kupchak can convince Wallace to give him Marc Gasol, it has to be NBA Executive of the Year Mark Warkentein.

Pau to Marc: You wanna come way out west wit me, right baby bro?!

This potential trade leaves the Nuggets with 11 players on the roster (I’ve included Birdman and Lawson). The Nuggets could follow up this trade by using the remainder of the MLE and/or minimum contract offers to fill their 4 remaining roster spots. The Nuggets still need a third point guard, and they should re-sign Anthony Carter to the minimum to fill this role. He knows the offense, is a good character guy, and Karl likes him. The Nuggets should then consider signing SF Matt Barnes. Barnes solidifies the Nuggets’ defense and 3-point shooting, and his presence could prove to be invaluable if Balkman and Afflalo are not ready to log playoff minutes; he would still end up costing at least $1.2 million less than Kleiza. The Nuggets could also offer this money to PF Tim Thomas, who was bought out by the Chicago Bulls earlier today. I discussed the merits of acquiring Thomas in my July 2nd column.

It is also true that the Nuggets possess some talent on their summer league team. The Nuggets therefore might consider signing a couple of these players to fill out the roster. Kareem Rush’s 3-point shooting and 6’6” body would be a nice addition, and Coby Karl is a smart player.

This deal makes far too much sense for it not to go down. As a fan, I cannot think of any offseason move that would excite me more than pairing Nene with a young 7-foot beast like Marc Gasol. Plus, the move helps Kroenke’s balance sheet because adding Gasol would increase the Nuggets’ international marketability. Come on, E. Stanley. He isn’t even that expensive. You can bank on Marc Gasol. Do it for the fans, por favor?

Food for thought:

Is anyone else tired of JR Smith? I know I am getting there. The Nuggets should consider trading JR Smith if he is what it takes to land Marc Gasol. JR is a brilliant (and lucky) shooter. And yes, his explosive offense did single-handedly win the Nuggets a few games last season. However, let’s not forget that JR is currently sitting in a jail cell because he ran a traffic light and killed his best friend. JR claims he has grown up, but I don’t buy it. He appeared on a live internet feed during an early morning traffic stop in New Jersey three weeks ago. Smith and Eddie Curry, an NBA prima donna who needs to get his life together and lose enough weight to run up and down the court, were passengers in the car that had been pulled over. The NBA players joked that they would give $1,000 to the first person in the SUV to run out of the stopped vehicle and tap the hood of the police cruiser. Way to go, Young Rich. Ask yourself, “Are these the actions of a true champion?” I think not. JR is currently too foolish and immature to play on a team destined to win an NBA title. I just do not see a team that he is a part of winning a ring. But the Grizzlies will not compete for a ring anytime soon and JR’s wild game would certainly sell some tickets in Memphis. The Nuggets might actually grow more disciplined, hungry, and competitive if they picked up Matt Barnes and dumped JR to land Gasol. Just something to consider…

Smith and his defense attorneys. Shouldn't he be in the gym? The face of an NBA champion? I think not.

5 responses to “Go Get Gasol!”

I have to admit, I am intrigued by your Gasol proposal but could not disagree with you more concerning your suggestion that we trade J.R.
J.R. is a treasure for the Nuggs and was one of the key ingredients that got us into the playoffs. The video you mentioned not with standing, I believe J.R. has in fact matured both on and off the court (at least he was smart enough to not be driving in the video). His game has improved as has his relationship with Karl. J.R. is a unique talent that by my estimation, can in fact be a part of a championship team. Having said that, I certainly hope Kroenke o.k’.s Nugget management to make a key aquisition soon. It has been a bit disheartning to see teams making aggressive moves to improve while the Nuggs have been pretty quite( I did like the Afflalo trade). Hopefully Kroenke realizes that in order to make a serious run for a championship the Nuggs must aquire one or possibly two key players. It is not realistic to think that this same team that could not defeat the Lakers will now be able to with Artest in their line up; to say nothing of competeing against the revamped Spurs, Trailblazers, etc.
Give J.R. a break- I don’t know about you but I was young and immature at one time and made stupid decisions; everyone grows up at their own pace.

Charles, thanks for writing in. The Nuggets are a legit big man away from being serious contenders, and they need another big even more now that LA, SA, CLE, and BOS have re-loaded. Gasol would be a perfect fit now and for years to come. I think he is going to grow into a very effective NBA player. As far as JR Smith goes, I do appreciate what he brings to the Nuggets. I was in the stands as he electrified the Pepsi Center during the playoffs and kept the Nuggets in games throughout the season. He used to be a great individual player, but he has begun to see the bigger picture. His court vision has expanded and he truly cares about winning. Chauncey deserves a great deal of credit for JR’s improvement, but I also think people need to remember that it was JR who ultimately turned the switch on and committed himself to improving his game. In all seriousness, good work, JR. He is great on the court (except for the occasional desperate chuck), and this is why I’d like to see him back as the team’s starting SG next season. That said, if he continues to act like a child off the court, I think he becomes more expendable; even if the team doesn’t actively seek out deals, they would probably entertain offers for him because each new infraction makes it that much easier to watch him leave town. I’m not saying the Nuggets should seek out a deal for JR. Trading him for Gasol would not be my preference. The scenario I laid out involving Kleiza would be the best route for the Nuggets’ front office to take. Nonetheless it is frustrating to watch JR continue to revert to his old ways. It is even more frustrating considering he has asked fans to forgive him so many times. I do not believe the Nuggets would or should go out of their way at this juncture to move JR solely for the sake of removing him from the locker room. Yet, I ask you to consider this: are the Nuggets closer to winning a championship with JR and without Marc Gasol or are they more competitive with Gasol, Matt Barnes and Kleiza, and no JR? I see a Nuggets team with Gasol, Barnes, and co going further than a team with JR and the current roster (assuming they do not add a talented big). My main point is that the Nuggets shouldn’t immediately hang up the phone if Memphis will only deal Gasol straight up for JR. It is a trade worth pondering, and I don’t believe JR’s recent actions have made him any more untouchable. Thanks again for your comment.

i agree 100% with the gasol trade(the kleiza part not JR)…a starting lineup of CB JR MELO NENE and GASOL is amazing.also the addition of barnes sounds good.he’s a pretty decent defender at the 3 to go along with afflalo.the nuggets should try to get this deal done NO JOKE because i’m fed up with the front office not doing a damn thing while the entire western conference gets better.the front office seems to be satisfied with the roster.we all know we cant rely on hunter and kleiza is an interesting trading piece.PLEASE NUGGETS FRONT OFFICE DO ITTTTTTTTTT…GO NUGGETS

I 100% completely agree with you on the trade idea for Marc Gasol. But including JR would be a mistake. Here is why I think why
For however longer Chauncey plays for, JR will have Chaunceys leadership and guidence to help him become the player he wants to be. Yes JR is still very immature, but he is only 23 years old (nearly 24). He just needs time to continue and blossom as a player. Reaching the West Fianls was a major step in his development becasue now he has smelt what a championship tastes like, now he is feening to taste it. As you should see by last season, JR can play both the 1 and 2, and is a very good passer. His ability to drive to the rim and finish nearly effortlessly plus not only his 3point range, but his mid range shot makes him almost a complete player. After Chauncey retires and after many extended playoff runs(hopefully championships) JR will be in the prime of his career and in my opnion a top 10 NBA player. Imagine 3 years from now the Nuggets putting out a starting five of
Ty Lawson
JR Smith
Carmelo Anthony
NENE
Gasol (hopefully)

All five would be seasoned NBA veterans in the primes of their career, loaded with playoff experience.